I don’t like Orlando. I think I’ve made that very plain over the last few weeks. This is my 4th trip, in as many weeks. This also wasn’t a pre-scheduled trip, it was very last minute and that’s not very fun. This trip home doesn’t even have anything fun like a wide body. It’s a route I’ve flow an absolute ton. So let’s get into it.
In This Trip
1: Travel is Boring, Orlando Week 4: GSP-ATL-MCO Delta 737-800 Comfort Plus and 767-300 First(Delta One) Review.
2: Universal Studios Orlando Hilton Hotel Options: Hilton Garden Inn vs Home2 Suites vs Homewood Suites.
3 :Travel is Boring, Orlando Week 4: Delta 757 Economy and Delta 717 Exit Row Review
3.1: Orlando Watersports Complex
3.2: MCO Airport
3.3: Delta 757 Economy Review
3.4: ATL Airport Transfer
3.5: Delta 717 Economy Review
3.6: Final Thoughts
Orlando Watersports Complex
This isn’t really travel related, but anyone who’s driven to MCO has likely been on 528 and seen the boat on a pillar. There’s a lake with cables overhead and ramps and rails in the water. This is a wakeboard cable park. If you have a few hours to kill before or after a flight, I would highly recommend checking out OWC. If you’ve never wakeboarded before, or never ridden cable, they offer lessons and all the rental gear you need.
Here’s the pro shop. Just walk in and get a pass. It’s a lot like a ski slope mixed with a skate park. You get a wrist band that allows you to ride the cable, much like a ski lift there’s an operator and you line up.
Once you have your gear, go for a ride. If you fall, there is a walk back to the start, but it’s a great way to spend a few hours. It’s all outdoors so in these COVID times, it’s a fun and safe activity.
MCO Airport
Ok, back to boring. After a few hours at OWC, I got back in my rental and headed for the airport. If you take surface streets there’s a few gas stations to fill up the rental car.
After dropping the rental car I headed for the terminal. “The Orlando Experience” is a funny yet completely accurate way of describing MCO. It’s crowded, poorly planned, full of tourists and chain restaurants, overly commercial, and overall unpleasant. Yep, that’s the Orlando experience.
Past security and waiting for the train. When riding this train, if you have time, always ride in the “front” car. You’ll be the first in line at the other side. It’s not a major “life hack” but it makes the crush of people a little more pleasant after the ride.
Empty train, all to myself.
These trains are interesting. They run on tires with concrete tracks. It’s a similar layout to the plane train in Atlanta.
The view from the train is at least pleasant. Some Delta 757s waiting to head back north.
I had a few minutes to kill so I went to the Skyclub. I should have hungout at OWC a little longer.
It was Halloween time and Delta had made a Jack-O-Lantern. I like fun little things like this. In fact it’s not even the first travel related pumpkin, The Hilton Double Tree had them last year too.
After a few minutes and a snack I headed for the gate. Much more calm than normal.
The boarding process soon commenced, as before, Delta is boarding from the rear of the plane. So I hung out waiting for my turn.
My ride up to ATL. As always the 757 is just a great looking plane.
Delta 757 Economy Review
Boarding though the hot jet-bridge.
Into my exit row seat. Tons of space here, but again I’m not very tall. There’s also power in each seat, both USB and 110v. This is great for days like this where I’ve been working and wakeboarding all day and need to charge my phone.
These 757s have a nice modern in-seat entertainment. Although I’ve noticed since the start of COVID, there don’t seem to be many updates to the options. Probably not a big deal, but I hope they update some time soon, I’m running out of things to watch (that I like).
Nice looking A319 waiting next to us at the gate. The late in the day clouds are starting to form here in Central Florida.
Mood lights on and we’re ready to close the door.
Off the gate and away we go. The 757 is just a real pleasure to ride on.
Florida is just so damn flat. Lots of little lakes here too. It’s flat and low so none of them are very deep, but there are certainly a lot of them.
Heading north, we turned slightly to the coast. Pretty normal for this route.
Lovely day for flying. When leaving Florida, I always try to sit on the right. Great views of the coast.
Quiet flight heading north. The attendants did a snack and water service, but I declined. I had just eaten a snack in the Skyclub.
In the air, this flight is less than an hour. So we soon descended into the Atlanta area.
We were heading for Runway 28, this runway is super far from the terminal, and I haven’t landed here in a while. With Covid, I assume the airport traffic has been light enough to not need it.
On the ground and at the gate. The 737 on the right is so short in comparison with us on the 757.
ATL Airport Transfer
We arrived at the A concourse and I have a relatively quick connection.
I’m just going to the B concourse, so I decided to just walk. The train wasn’t there and I like this part of the ATL airport.
At the B terminal and my gate. Nearly all the way at the end. It seems like most of my flights are out of A/B concourse these days.
Delta 717 Economy Review
Onto the jet-bridge for my flight. I’m one of the last ones to board.
Into my seat on the 717. In this exit row I have a ton of space. I do like these planes, they aren’t fancy or new, but are very comfortable.
No entertainment options, but there is power if you want to charge your phone.
Looking out at the other T-tails. Lot fewer these days with the retirement of the MD88/90, but the 717s soldier on.
Let’s go home. Nice to see some of the long haul planes sitting at the E and F concourses again.
This flight is short. 28 minutes in the air so no service is offered. Not that it really matters, half the time the seatbelt sign is left on the entire flight.
These evening sunset flights always make for a pleasant evening. Then I remember it’s rush hour when I land and have to fight through traffic.
Coming to land and it’s a beautiful sunset over the slight haze forming over the mountains.
And on the ground taxing to the gate. Glad to be home after a crazy 4 weeks.
Final Thoughts
This is my final trip home after a 4 weeks of being away. I don’t usually have that much time away from home. I travel a lot, but usually it’s well planned and for only a few days at a time. This trip feels like I’m back in 2014, I traveled to Orlando for work weekly for 6 months, it was fun, but exhausting. And I think I’ve mentioned how much I dislike Orlando.
This trip was perfectly pleasant, on time, and comfortable. No upgrades today, but these flights are so short and there’s no service anyway. I like the 757 and 717 so I’m glad to fly them again.
OWC is always a blast, if you have time I highly recommend it.